What to Think about Before Choosing to Expatriate
Published on 17 October 2007
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Thousands of Brits pick up sticks and move abroad to live in new countries every year. The trend is strong, it’s been going on for decades and if anything the number of people choosing to leave the UK is increasing. With fellow British countrymen living as far and wide as Spain, Australia, the Americas, Morocco, Bulgaria and beyond, those Brits who do choose to live abroad often find themselves in good company.
But before you do pack up and head off to be a stranger in a strange land, there are plenty of things to consider. Beyond deciding how to pay for your transition one of the most important considerations to ensure a smooth move is of course related to your country of choice! There are locations all over the world that beckon to Brits but the fact of the matter is not all suit every person who wants to expatriate. Taking the time to do some serious homework before selecting a relocation site is vital to make the experience a good one and in this article we look at what to think about before choosing to expatriate.
Some of the expatriate essentials that you might want to consider include the following: -
• Language. Whilst this is not always a big concern, if you long to relocate to a small village in a foreign, non-English speaking country where tourism isn’t generally a factor it could become so. Can you speak the language? Are you able to learn it? How will you communicate with neighbours, teachers, doctors? Think about this question carefully because without the ability to at least basically communicate you could feel very lost and very homesick.
• Customs and culture. Maybe the beaches of many Arabic countries or the landscapes of Belize call to expatriates, but do you really know all you need to in order to feel comfortable living among the locals in these exotic destinations? Have you researched the culture and customs to make sure you’ll feel at home and understand and accept the local people, their beliefs and their ways? When you move to live abroad remember that it’s you that has to adapt to the local culture, the local culture doesn’t have to change to fit you in!
• Accessibility. It’s a wonderful notion to get away from it all, but can you actually get where you want to go with a relative amount of ease? Many of the hot European expatriate destinations are fairly accessible by plane, boat or car nowadays and affordably so too, but what about your destination of choice?
• Quality of medical care. Are the standards of medical care in the country you’re considering moving to up to your expectations? Have you really delved in to see what you can expect in terms of availability, affordability and standard of care? It is easy to say this factor does not matter when all is well, but if illness does strike, will you be taken care of properly? Have you considered getting an expatriate health insurance quotation?
• Politics. No one really wants to consider this, but it can be a factor for expatriates. Is your country of choice stable? How are relations with the UK? Are British expatriates really welcomed there and will they likely continue to be for the long term?
• Security. What is crime like where you are going? Is it relatively safe for expatriates?
Moving to another country most certainly is high adventure. It can prove to be an opportunity of a lifetime for those who really know what they’re getting into. However, before shipping off it is extremely wise to delve deeper than simply looking at beautiful resort pictures to choose the destination. Taking the time to really research the destination and even to visit at length is never a bad idea!
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